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Government, Kansas, Submitted

Governor Responds to Decision on Lifetime Caps

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Governor Colyer Responds to CMS Decision on Lifetime Caps

TOPEKA- On Monday, Governor Colyer and the State Medicaid Director received a letter from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid (“CMS”) announcing they would not approve lifetime caps.

Gov. Colyer issued the following statement:

“As we indicated during the last Bob Bethell KanCare Oversight Committee meeting on April 23, Kansas is no longer pursuing a lifetime limit provision in its 1115 waiver.

“The decision to remove lifetime caps was made after a series of discussions with CMS in which they indicated they would be unable to approve the measure.

“While we will not be moving forward with lifetime caps, we are pleased that the Administration has been supportive of our efforts to include a work requirement in the 1115 waiver. This important provision will help improve outcomes and ensure that Kansans are empowered to achieve self-sufficiency.”

 

Fort Scott, Schools, Submitted

FSCC Grade School Music Festival

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The 49th Annual Invitational Grade School Music Festival was held at Fort Scott Community College Saturday.

“The day was a huge success!Ellis and Bailey Halls (were) packed full of excited young musicians performing as soloists as well as in small and large ensembles,” Seth Ernst, FSCC music instructor said.

“Here are some numbers from the day:

–        Thirty-four schools and private music studios attended, just shy of 300 solos performed,  46 small and large ensembles, upwards of 400 students, in total, across all entries.

“There were hundreds of family and friends in attendance to watch and listen,” Ernst said. “I must give my sincerest thanks to the following people:

–          The maintenance staff, for their hard work in helping me set up and tear down all of the festival rooms,

–          The business office, for their excellent help with getting me resources for the festival,

–          The festival judges, two of whom include our very own Ronda Bailey and Dr. Greg Turner, for their expertise in assigning students’ ratings and giving valuable performance suggestions,

–          The student workers, who put in a long day and made sure that all of the performance rooms ran smoothly and that students received their earned awards. These included Abigail Gilligan, Alexandreia Johnston, Allison Gilligan, Ashley Lockwood, Dayton Knight, Donnie Flowers, Erin Deatsch, Jackalynn Neher, Katie Palmer, Kevin Kerr, Megan Thomas, Shayla Button, Tim Higgins and Ty Covey.”

Fort Scott, Schools

FSCC Spring Concert May 12

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The Fort Scott Community College Music Department will present the annual Spring Concert on Saturday, May 12, at 7:00 pm in the Danny and Willa Ellis Family Fine Arts Center, 2108 South Horton St.

The FSCC Chamber Winds will begin the concert with a Hollywood-themed prelude consisting of several beloved themes from silver screen classics.

The FSCC Choir will take the second half of the show with a wide variety of uplifting and inspiring works that are sure help you feel the fullness and life of the spring season.

Admission is free and open to the public!

For more information, please contact Seth Ernst at 620-223-2700 ext. 3058, or email [email protected].”

Fort Scott, Schools

FSHS Forensic Wins 2nd In State

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Courtesy photos. The Fort Scott High School Forensic Team 2018.

Fort Scott High School Forensics  scored this weekend.

“We had 36 events qualify for state this year,” Amber Toth,FSHS Forensic Teacher, said. “However, we are only allowed to take 16 total entries and two Lincoln Douglas Debaters. Overall, as a team, we took second.”

She is proud of her forensic students.

“If you see Forensics kids, please tell them congrats,” Toth said.” It is an amazing accomplishment to walk out of the largest state tournament in any classification with a trophy for the 2nd year in a row.”

Courtesy photos. Fort Scott High School Forensics Team 2018.

Individual Results:

Darby Toth is the Oration State Champion and the Impromptu State Runner-Up

Elizabeth Ngatia is the State Runner-Up in Oration and takes 4th in Poetry.

Zoe Self is the State Runner-Up in Extemp.

Mark Adams is the State Runner-Up in Lincoln Douglas debate.

Rebekah Sweyko takes 5th in Extemp and 6th in Informative.

Tayton Majors was 6th in Extemp.

Isabella Provence makes it to semi-finals in Humorous Interpretation.

Kaden Kiwan was a semi-finalist in Informative.

Mark Adams and Jonie Antonio were semi-finalists is Duet Acting.

“Also representing us were Ashtyn Elizabeth Dowell in Extemp, Hunter  Adamson and Zoe Self in duet, Madi Toth in prose, and Alex Gorman in Humorous Interp and Dalton Womeldorff in LD,” Toth said.

“We also have 15 students attending the National Tournament in Fort Lauderdale, Florida this summer,” she said.

Tayton Majors and Sara Al-Shawish will be competing in Policy Debate.

Darby Toth will be recognized on the state level as a four time-qualifier (Fort Scott’s second ever), was chosen as South Kansas District Student of the Year, and will compete in Student Congress.

Zoe Self and Hunter Adamson will be competing in Duo Interpretation.

Rebekah Sweyko will be competing in Informative Speaking.

Madison Toth will be competing in Program of Oral Interpretation.

Ashtyn Dowell and Jorden Willard will compete in Public Forum Debate.

Elizabeth Ngatia will be competing in Original Oration.

Isabella Provence will be competing in Humorous Interpretation.

Brooklyn Lyons will be competing in Program of Oral Interpretation.

Mark Adams will compete in Domestic Extemp.

Dalton Womeldorff will compete in World Schools Debate.

Jonie Antonio will compete in World Schools Debate.

Opinion

Obituary Of Ralph Wayne Daniels

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Ralph Wayne Daniels, age 48, a resident of Ft. Scott, Kansas, passed away unexpectedly Thursday, May 3, 2018, in Ft. Scott.
He was born April 7, 1970, in Jackson County, Missouri, the son of Haskel Wayne Daniels and Nellie May Dorsey Daniels.  He married Cathy Smith on June 12, 2009, at Ada, Oklahoma.  Ralph graduated from the Jayhawk Linn High School with the Class of 1988.
He later attended Trucking School at Ft. Scott Community College and had worked as a truck driver for various trucking companies throughout the United States.  He was currently employed by O’Brien Ready Mix.
Ralph will be remembered for his quick wit and sense of humor.  He was a Messianic believer who was loyal and faithful to both his family and his faith.
 
Survivors include his wife, Cathy, of the home; seven children, Desiree Kidwell of Baltimore, Maryland; Peter Mauk, Seth Daniels, and Zachary Daniels, all of Mound City, Kansas; Faith Cox and husband, Jeremy, of Ada, Oklahoma; Hope Daniels, of Ft. Scott and Raylee Bledsoe and husband, Caleb, also of Ft. Scott. Also, surviving are six grandchildren Adriahna, Owen, Skarlet, Roman, Gabriel, and Aidan with two more on the way.
Additional survivors are four brothers, Charlie Daniels, Curtis Daniels, Corby Daniels and James Newman and two sisters, Julie Glaves and Lorelei Daniels.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
 
Stephen Coursen will conduct funeral services at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, May 9th at the Cheney Witt Chapel.
Burial will follow in the Evergreen Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 P.M. Tuesday at the Cheney Witt Chapel.  Memorials are suggested to the Ralph Daniels Memorial Fund and may be left in the care of the Cheney Witt Chapel, 201 S. Main, P.O. Box 347, Ft. Scott, KS 66701.  Words of remembrance may be submitted to the online guestbook at cheneywitt.com.
Bourbon County, Government

The Bourbon County Commission Agenda for May 8

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Agenda

Bourbon County Commission Room

2nd Floor, County Courthouse

210 S. National Avenue

Fort Scott, KS 66701

Tuesdays starting at 9:00

Date: May 8, 2018

1st District-Lynne Oharah Minutes: Approved: ____________

2nd District-Jeff Fischer Corrected: _______________

3rd District-Nick Ruhl Adjourned at: _______________

County Clerk-Kendell Mason

9:00- 9:15 George Collinge- Eagle Road project

9:45-10:00 Fence viewing decision between Cutler and Coyan

11: 00- 11:10 Justin Meeks- budget concern and possible action item with County Appraisers office

11:10-11:25 Justin Meeks- Executive Session attorney/client relationship

12:00- 1:30 Commissioners gone to Lunch

1:30- 1:50 Justin Meeks- meeting about old jail/ Data Center

1:50-2:20 Justin Meeks- update on NRP/Meeting times/Resolution

2:30 Employee Handbook

Justifications for Executive Session:

Personnel matters of individual non-elected personnel

Consultation with an attorney for the body or agency which would be deemed privileged in the attorney-client relationship

Matters relating to employer-employee negotiations whether or not in consultation with the representative(s) of the body or agency

Confidential data relating to financial affairs or trade secrets of corporations, partnerships, trusts and individual proprietorships

Preliminary discussions relating to the acquisition of real property

Matters relating to the security of a public body or agency, public building or facility or the information system of a public body or agency, if the discussion of such matters at an open meeting would jeopardize the security of such public body, agency, building, facility or information system

Bourbon County, Submitted

Mercy Hospital Receives Grant For Mammograms

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Women who cannot afford a mammogram will benefit from a $1,000 donation from HOPE 4 You Breast Cancer Foundation to Mercy Health Foundation Fort Scott. Funds donated by HOPE 4 You are used to provide mammograms and breast imaging for women who meet certain criteria.

This is the seventh consecutive year Mercy has received the grant.

“Far too often women neglect their own health care needs for other priorities,” said Christi Keating, Mercy Hospital Fort Scott executive director of patient care services. “Funds from this grant will give woman who might otherwise not get mammograms access to the life-saving screenings.”

HOPE 4 You’s giving capacity is based solely on donations from individuals, organizations and fundraisers such as its annual Race 4 HOPE, which will be held June 2.

“The purpose of HOPE 4 You is to save lives through screening and early detection,” said Tina Rockhold, executive director of the Mercy Health Foundation Fort Scott. “Their mission matches up very well with that of Mercy. The RACE 4 HOPE each year in June supports these programs at Mercy as well as other area hospitals. We are grateful for this donation which will provide screening and diagnostic mammograms for underserved women in our area.”

For more information about digital mammography or to schedule a mammography appointment, call Mercy’s Imagining Services at 620-223-7015.

Mercy Hospital Fort Scott is an acute care hospital with 46 licensed beds, offering comprehensive medical, surgical, OB/GYN, pediatric, homecare and hospice services. Inpatient care is provided with 24/7 physician coverage. In 2017, Mercy Hospital Fort Scott received The Leapfrog Group’s prestigious A rating. Mercy Clinic Fort Scott is located on hospital grounds as well as Mercy rural health clinics in Arma and Pleasanton.

Mercy, named one of the top five large U.S. health systems in 2018, 2017 and 2016 by IBM Watson Health, serves millions annually. Mercy includes more than 40 acute care and specialty (heart, children’s, orthopedic and rehab) hospitals, 800 physician practices and outpatient facilities, 44,000 co-workers and 2,100 Mercy Clinic physicians in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma. Mercy also has clinics, outpatient services and outreach ministries in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. In addition, Mercy’s IT division, Mercy Technology Services, supply chain organization, ROi, and Mercy Virtual commercially serve providers and patients in more than 20 states coast to coast.

Bourbon County, K-State Extension

Spring Weather Causes Pastures and Ponds Turn Green

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Christopher Petty, M.S. Extension Agent Livestock Production, and Forage Management, K-State Research and Extension, Southwind Extension District, 210 S. National, Fort Scott, KS 66701 (620) 223-3720 Work,(620)224-6031 Cell or online [email protected]

Spring weather has finally arrived. As spring temperatures rise, farm pastures begin to green up. I am happy to help you become more productive, by visiting you on your farm or ranch and reviewing your management options. We can discuss pasture fertility, grazing strategies, weed control options and livestock management.

As our pastures green up, unfortunately, our farm ponds do too. This is caused by high nutrient loads which create favorable environments for pond weeds and algae growth. While some pond weeds and algae are necessary for a healthy pond ecosystem, excess weeds and algae problems can rob your ponds of the necessary oxygen to sustain fish life. Maintaining a healthy pond is a balancing act. If over fifty percent of your pond is weedy or algae filled, it’s time to begin an action plan. Unfortunately, there are no quick fix solutions to pond weeds problems. However, starting early in the year and creating a long-term weed or algae control strategy is your best option.

I’d be happy to assist you, free of charge, with your pond or pasture concerns. Contact me at the Southwind Extension District of K-State Research and Extension at (620)223-3720 or by e-mail at [email protected] to schedule a visit.

Bourbon County, Submitted

Family Event To Raise Funds For Cystic Fibrosis Research

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Family friendly event to raise funds to support a cure for a rare disease

Mark your calendars for May 5th and plan to come out to the Bourbon County 4-H Building, from 11 A.M. until 2. P. M. to help raise funds to cure Cystic Fibrosis. The day’s events are tentatively scheduled to include a bounce house, face painting, homemade sugar cookies, and a grilled hotdog, pop and chips lunch, available for a free will donation.

Cystic fibrosis is a rare, non-contagious, genetic disease that, most noticeably, effects the lungs. The median age for an individual with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is around 40 years old, but this age rapidly continues to increase with advances in medical science.

In and around the surrounding area, at least four people are affected by Cystic fibrosis, with ages ranging from a young toddler, to a teenager, to someone in their early forties. All of the money from this event will be donated to the Heart of America Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, a charitable organization tasked with supporting the work of finding a cure. For more information about cystic fibrosis, visit the Cystic Fibrosis foundation at www.cff.org. For information about event on May 5th, contact Briana Petty at (620) 215-6141.